Yao Jingyuan, chief economist and spokesperson with the National
Bureau of Statistics, told a press conference in Beijing July 17
that China is facing large employment pressure.
At
the press conference sponsored by the State Council Information
Office, Yao provided three groups of data. First: laid-off workers
of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) amounted to 3.7 million by June;
registered city unemployment was nearly 8 million and the
unemployment rate reached 4.1 percent by June. Second: the
workforce in cities may increase 10 million this year. Third: only
50 percent of this year's college graduates had found jobs by June
20, less than last year's 65 percent.
Yao said the service sector absorbs most of the workforce, but SARS
hit the sector heavily. China's government will carry out a series
of measures to settle unemployment problems.
According to Yao, national unemployment has declined in recent
years. For example, laid-off workers of SOEs reduced by 540,000 in
the first six months. China's economy maintained quick development
despite SARS and can create 8 million employment positions this
year which is the aim put forward by Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan at
the annual session of the National People's Congress.
Yao also explained that registered unemployment is used as a
statistic. As some people without jobs do not register, real
unemployment is above the registered number. He said the National
Bureau of Statistics is researching this question to make the
statistical situation more precise.
(China.org.cn by Feng Yikun, July 18, 2003)